Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden recently stopped by London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire to showcase tracks from their new album 'King Animal'. Missed out on the show? Take a look through this gallery to see some shots from the night.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden kicked off their set with new single ‘Been Away For Too Long’.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

The band's intimate show at Shepherd's Bush Empire was held 18 years after they became the first ever band to play at the venue.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

We caught up with the band right before they took to the stage. Click here to see a chat with Kim and Matt, and to watch some live footage from the night.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"Our creative chemistry is still there", they told us, referring to the recording process for 'King Animal', the band's first new album in 15 years.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Haven't heard 'King Animal' yet? Click here to stream the album in its entirety.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

The grunge veterans, who split up in 1996, last released an album in that same year and have been working on its follow-up since they reunited in 2010.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Earlier this year, Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell told NME that the follow-up to 1996's 'Down On The Upside' would "pick up where they left off".

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Cornell said: "We have an album coming out in the fall. It's kind of hard to describe, it's sort of picking up where we left off."

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"There's a lot of different feels on the album," Cornell continued. "We're a band where every single member contributes music so that makes it very diverse. It's a very rich album with a lot of different moods to it."

Soundgarden's set also featured tracks including 'Eyelid's Mouth' and 'Rusty Cage'.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Their four-song encore included 'Worse Dreams', 'The Day I Tried To Live', 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Slaves & Bulldozers'.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Ahead of their recent London show, Soundgarden's Kim Thayhil told NME that it was two years ago exactly that the band decided to return to the studio together.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"It was relatively easy, once we put our mind to it", drummer Matt Cameron said of the reunion.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"The songs came pretty quick", he continued. "Chris had a lot of completed songs, the rest of us had bits and pieces that we all fleshed out together."

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"At some point it became pretty evident that we were learning all these new songs," Kim said, so the band decided to produce a new record. "It was never actually formally stated, it just kind of was assumed."

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"We tried to keep it as laid back and casual as possible," Matt told us.

While the band have wrapped up their UK tour, you can catch them live in the States in the next few months. Click here for their upcoming tour dates.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden at Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden playing at Shepherd's Bush Empire - a venue where they were the very first band to play 18 years ago.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

You can watch all of our video interviews with Soundgarden right here.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Click here to read NME's verdict on Soundgarden's first new album in 15 years.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

"'Been Away For Too Long' is clattering, rugged and alive, and a lot better than the inelegant Avengers Assemble theme tune ‘Live To Rise’ the Seattle legends released in April this year," NME said of the band's new single.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Chris Cornell playing to a sold-out Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Photo:Tomas Correa ArceAdded: 14 Nov 2012

Soundgarden play O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

Want to listen to 'King Animal'? Click here to stream it in its entirety.